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Johnson-led Nationals continue set with Angels

Jun 28, 2011 - 2:46 PM (Sports Network) - No matter who is on the bench, the Washington Nationals continue to show they are not a team that gives up easily.

After losing the managing debut of Davey Johnson last night, the Nats try to avoid dropping two straight for the first time in three weeks and even their three-game series with the hosting Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Washington had won 13 of its previous 15 since consecutive losses on June 8-9 prior to Monday's setback. Despite that run of success, the Nationals were playing under the guidance of a third different manager in a five-day span. Jim Riggleman resigned last Thursday due to a contract dispute and bench coach John McLaren took over for a weekend set against the White Sox before Johnson was hired to handle the role, beginning with last night's game.

Washington tried to squeeze out a victory for its new skipper, but ultimately fell, 4-3, in 10 innings. All three of the club's runs came on homers, including Danny Espinosa's two-out, game-tying blast in the ninth inning off Angels closer Jordan Walden, who suffered his third straight blown save.

Maicer Izturis, though, singled up the middle past a drawn-in infield to score Alberto Callaspo in the 10th inning for the Angels, winners of six of their last eight. They also improved to 9-4 versus the National League this season and are 1 1/2 games back of the Rangers for first place in the AL West.

Peter Bourjos had four hits and drove in a run, lifting his season average 11 points to .264.

"I'm seeing the ball a lot better," Bourjos said. "I got some pitches to hit and they fell in for me. It's a good feeling."

Torii Hunter played for the first time in four games when he came into the contest as a defensive replacement. Hunter had been out with a rib injury suffered after hitting the wall while making a catch at Florida and said afterwards he should be in the lineup for tonight's game.

Mike Morse and Ryan Zimmerman also hit homers for the Nationals, while Espinosa's 15th blast of the season set a major league rookie record for second baseman before the All-Star break.

Despite the loss, Johnson still enjoyed being back on the bench.

"It was a lot of fun, a little bit of everything in the ballgame," said Johnson after his first game as an MLB manager since 2000 with the Dodgers.

Jason Marquis pitched the last game of Riggleman's tenure and he will try to give his new manager a victory tonight.

The right-hander is 2-0 over his past five starts, giving up more than two runs in just one of those outings, while the Nats have won all five games. Marquis, though, got a no-decision versus the Mariners in last Thursday's 1-0 win, hurling eight scoreless innings of three-hit ball. He took a no-hitter into the sixth inning that was broken up by the opposing pitcher.

Marquis, 32, is 7-2 with a 3.53 earned run average in 15 starts this year and hasn't lost since May 25. He has faced the Angels just once before and was blasted for eight runs -- seven earned -- over just 3 1/3 innings of work.

Joel Pineiro counters for the Angels and is 3-3 with a 4.09 ERA in 11 starts this season.

Pineiro has allowed four earned runs in six of his past seven starts, going 1-3 in that span. That includes a no-decision on Wednesday in Florida as he gave up eight hits and a walk over six innings of his team's 6-5 triumph. The 32-year-old righty was making his first start since recording his 100th career victory on June 17 at the Mets.

Pineiro will make his sixth career start against the Nats tonight and is 1-3 with a 2.70 ERA against them.

The Nationals won two of three when the clubs last met in Washington in 2005, though the Angels returned the favor by winning a series at home in '08.